Leonardo's Window

Paolo Verzone

Paolo Verzone is an internationally renowned photographer with over 30 years experience in photography. A member of the VU’ agency, Verzone has worked for some of the world’s most prestigious publications, including National Geographic, Time, Vanity Fair and Le Monde. His distinctive style combines meticulous attention to detail with an uncanny ability to capture the essence of his subjects, whether it be breathtaking landscapes, striking portraits or scenes from everyday life.

©Jess Chamberlain

Scuola della Luce

Scuola della Luce is a creative space that focuses on the study, use and artistic experimentation of light. It offers a platform to learn about lighting techniques and visual narrative-making first-hand from international professionals in the field. SL uses light as a meeting point to think about art, photography and representation.

Founded by photographer Paolo Verzone and artist Jordi Bernadó, SL has become a tight-knit international community formed by photographers, visual artists, filmmakers, thinkers and writers, all of them united by one common thread: light.

Scuola della Luce believes in collaborative processes of creation. It organises workshops, conferences, exhibitions and multidisciplinary programmes. The activities are conducted by internationally acclaimed photographers, artists and authors, all of whom are part of the SL community.

This allows SL to offer first-class learning experiences across the most diverse fields of creation —photographic technique, critical thinking, curatorial skills, story-telling, visual languages. The diversity and excellence of all collaborators gives SL a rigorous interdisciplinary focus.

Photographic aspect of the workshop:

The “Leonardo’s Window” workshop is aimed at photographers of all levels, from beginners to experts, who wish to refine their photographic techniques and explore new creative horizons. During the seven-day workshop, participants will have the opportunity to work closely with Paolo Verzone, who will offer valuable advice and personalised suggestions. Massimo Nicolaci, Paolo’s long-time collaborator, will participate in all activities with the group.

Workshop objectives:

• To develop a photographic vision: Learning to see the world through the lens, developing a critical eye for composition, light and subject.
• Advanced Photographic Techniques: Exploring advanced photographic techniques, including the use of natural and artificial light, exposure management and post-production.
• Visual Storytelling: Create powerful and coherent visual narratives through images, learning how to tell effective stories through photography.
• Landscape Photography: Explore and capture the breathtaking landscapes of Val d’Orcia and Valdichiana, focusing on composition and light management.
• Architectural photography: Documenting the historic architecture of Tuscan cities, capturing the beauty and details of ancient buildings.

Workshop programme:

©Rowan Heuvel_Unsplash

Day 1 – Sunday 15 September: Welcome to Pierle

• 15.00 hrs: Meet at Camucia-Cortona railway station. Arrival in Pierle and check-in at the villa.
• Welcome and introduction to the workshop with Paolo Verzone.
• Photo walk through the historic centre of Cortona to discover the Cortona On The Move festival.
• Aperitif at the Fortezza del Girifalco.
• Welcome dinner at the farmhouse and presentation of the detailed programme.

Day 2 – Monday 16 September: Montepulciano and Pienza.

• Breakfast at the farm.
• Morning: Excursion to Montepulciano, famous for its vineyards and breathtaking views.
• Packed lunch in the vineyards.
• Afternoon: Visit to Pienza, the “ideal city” of the Renaissance, with architectural photography sessions.
• Return to the farmhouse for a sunset aperitif.
• Social dinner and viewing of photos taken during the day.

Day 3 – Tuesday 17 September: San Gimignano and the Chapel of the Madonna di Vitaleta.

• Breakfast at the country house.
• Morning: Excursion to San Gimignano, the city of towers, with exercises in urban photography.
• Packed lunch among the medieval towers.
• Afternoon: Visit to the Chapel of the Madonna di Vitaleta, one of the most photographed places in Tuscany.
• Return to the farmhouse for a relaxing aperitif.
  Dinner at the Osteria del Teatro restaurant in Cortona.
  Exclusive night shooting inside the Girifalco Fortress.

Day 4 – Wednesday 18 September: Bagno Vignoni and Val d’Orcia

• Breakfast at the farm.
• Morning: Exploration of Bagno Vignoni, famous for its thermal waters.
• Packed lunch overlooking the valley.
• Afternoon: Photographic tour of the Val d’Orcia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with stops at the most spectacular viewpoints.
• Return to the farmhouse for an aperitif at sunset.
• Dinner at the agriturismo and viewing of participants’ portfolios.

Day 5 – Thursday 19 September: Siena and Volterra
Breakfast at the farmhouse.

• Morning: Excursion to Siena, famous for its historical heritage and spectacular cathedral, with sessions on urban and architectural photography.
• Packed lunch in Piazza del Campo.
• Afternoon: Visit to Volterra, with a focus on urban and architectural photography.
• Return to the villa for a relaxing aperitif.
• Dinner and discussion of the photographic techniques used during the day.

Day 6 – Friday 20 September: From Cortona to Monte Sant’Egidio

• Breakfast at the farmhouse.
• Morning: the route takes us from Cortona to Mount Sant’Egidio along the ancient Roman roads, with panoramic views of Cortona and the Val di Chiana. From the centre of Cortona we continue along the Via Crucis Severini, where we can admire the pictures by Pelle Cass exhibited at the 14th International Photography Festival, and reach Piazza Santa Margherita. Continue along a dirt road and, once you have reached Torreone, gradually climb up the CAI path n.561 along the well-preserved Imperial Roman Basolata road. We then climb to the top of Alta Sant’Egidio to admire a wide panorama of the Val di Chiana and Trasimeno.
• Lunch in a picnic area.
• In the afternoon: Continue along the white path until you reach path 563, which climbs to the Eremo delle Celle at an altitude of 530 metres. After a visit to the impressive monastery, we return to Piazza Santa Margherita and from here, following another path through the steep streets of Borgo di Cortona, we reach Piazza della Repubblica.
• Return to the farmhouse for a relaxing aperitif.
• Dinner at the “Osteria Pane e Vino” in Cortona.

Day 7 Saturday 21 September: Closing and greetings

• Breakfast at the lodge.
• Closing of the workshop with Paolo Verzone and final greetings.

Included in the workshop:

• Accommodation in a Tuscan farmhouse shared with the photographer and other participants.
• Breakfast, aperitif and dinner every day.
• Theoretical and practical sessions with Paolo Verzone.
• Review and critique of the photographs taken.
• Transport to all the excursions on the programme.

Join Paolo Verzone for an unforgettable photographic journey, where each day will offer new discoveries and opportunities to improve your photographic skills in a stimulating and collaborative environment.

The place

Villa Cuiano
Villa Cuiano is located in Pierle, a medieval village in the hills between Cortona and Lake Trasimeno, which with its castle overlooks the green valley below. The Villa is surrounded by olive trees and chestnut and oak woods and is characterized by the Tuscan style of rural stone houses, with exposed chestnut beams and lintels and stone hearths dating back to the 19th century. Villa Cuiano is divided into 4 apartments, all independent.
The large garden opens like a terrace with spectacular views of the verdant valley below and the Umbrian mountains in the distance and includes a swimming pool for the exclusive use of guests (12×6 meters, 140 cm maximum depth).

Costs:

• Apartment “La Loggetta” consisting of 1 double room, about 50 sq. m., 1 bathroom. Cost double single use: €3,500
• Apartment “Il Colombaio” composed of 1 double room, about 65 sqm, 1 bathroom. Double single use cost: 3,500€
• Apartment “La Loggia” on three floors consisting of 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms (3 double and 2 with 2 single beds that can be joined); about 200 sqm. Specifically:
  • Attic: double room with en suite bathroom. Double single use cost: €3,500
  • Attic: room with two single beds joinable and shared external bathroom.  Double single use cost: 3,000€
  • Attic: room with two single beds joinable and shared external bathroom. Double single use cost: 3,000€
  • Second floor: double bedroom and private bathroom with tub and shower: Double single use cost: 3,500€
  • On the ground floor: double room and private bathroom: Double single use cost: 3,500€

Accompanying person cost: 1.800€ (Excludes sessions with the lecturer)

The workshop will take place if and only if a minimum of 7 participants is reached within 25th August.

Info: info@cortonaonthemove.com

Terms & Conditions

We reserve the right to cancel this event when we do not reach the minimum number of participants.
If you decide to cancel for any reason, and notify us within 25 August, we will reimburse all fees. After that time frame OTM Company and Scuola della Luce will not make any refund.

Every participant has to bring their own equipment (camera, lenses, tripod and laptop).

Booking

To make a reservation please send an email to info@cortonaonthemove.com
The reservation will only be confirmed once the transfer has been made.